Bungie reveals all new details about their upcoming game Marathon, including a release date, price point, and gameplay features. Read on to find out the latest news surrounding the game.
Bungie Reveals Marathon’s Release Date, Pricing, and Gameplay Footage
Marathon Runs Towards a Promising Launch
Marathon has finally received a release date window and price, set to launch in March 2026 for $39.99 with additional regional pricing included. Bungie has revealed this news in a blog post on their website on December 15th, after being originally slated for a September 24, 2025 release date. In addition to this, Bungie has revealed new gameplay features, including proximity chat, new maps, and content passes.
According to Bungie’s "Vision of Marathon" blog post, purchasing the game will give the player full access alongside a yearlong roadmap of free game updates. These updates will include free maps, events, and a Season 1 battlepass. Late buyers need not worry, though, as battlepasses will be made available for purchase even after their respective seasons.
Furthermore, Bungie notes that they’re prioritizing "competitive integrity" and making sure victories "never come down to how much money you spend," hinting at a relative lack of microtransactions.
Bungie is Getting Back on Its Feet for Marathon
While Marathon is now approaching its new March 2026 release date, the game has been struggling to find its footing amongst players since its announcement in 2023. Marathon is Bungie’s first original release since 2015’s Destiny, and the game has been met with criticism due to an alpha test that was met with mixed reviews as well as allegations of plagiarism.
According to players and streamers, Marathon’s closed alpha test presented an interesting sci-fi premise and solid extraction shooter gameplay, but failed to make a memorable impact in any particular area. Furthermore, Bungie had admitted to using stolen assets from a Bluesky artist named ANTIREAL, prompting even less goodwill for the game than before.
With the latest announcements and the development team’s promise to "chat with the community," it’s clear to see that Bungie is trying harder to rectify the backlash. This is even true for the aesthetic and gameplay updates that Marathon has received in the latest developer update.
A More Distinct Looking Marathon
Bungie’s blog post also detailed some of the ways that the extraction shooter would, in their words, "double down" on the game’s dark, gritty, and grounded sci-fi worlds. This includes more unique gameplay features and stronger visual and art direction for the game.
Marathon has now been updated to include stronger visual storytelling elements, including darker, moodier lighting, garish and imposing structures across the sky, and even corpses and anomalies strewn along the world. Visual fidelity and audio clarity have also been improved, showcasing the world in a much better light.
As for gameplay, Marathon will now include new customization options, including unique weapon parts and different archetypes for the player Runner, which offers various playstyles. New quality of life features, such as proximity chat, solo queue, and other kinds of Runners, have been added as well.
Marathon will release in March 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. For more on Bungie’s upcoming extraction shooter, read our article on the game here:
Sources:
Vision of Marathon: New Gameplay, Dev Insights, & More
Marathon plagiarism controversy explained: The full story
Marathon Delayed Indefinitely After Passionate Feedback
